English For Students of Journalism

English for Students of
Journalism
Najla Azar
Wahid Naqshbandi
Editors:
Dr. Suzanne Griffin

Toufiq Sarwarzada
Herat 2013
Project made possible by a grant from the United States Embassy Kabul
Herat University Press
English for Students of Journalism
Author: Najla Azar, Wahid Naqshbandi

Edited by: Dr. Suzanne Griffin, Toufiq Sarwarzada
First Edition: 2013
Cover Design: Hekmatullah Sarwarzada
Interior Design: Hekmatullah Sarwarzada
Printed by: Silver Star Printing Co.
Published by Herat University

Ghol Urdu Street, Herat, Afghanistan
Project made possible by a grant from the United States Embassy Kabul
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.
For more information about the book send your inquiries to:
heratespproject@gmail.com
Preface
Introduction to the Herat University English for Specific Purposes Textbooks
The Herat English for Specific Purposes (ESP) textbooks are the first series of ESP
textbooks produced for Afghan university students in Afghanistan. The Herat ESP
Project was initiated in 2012 by a request of Herat University Chancellor Mir Ghulam
Osman Barez Hosseini to the Public Affairs Section of the United States Consulate
in Herat. The first ESP textbooks were completed and published under the leadership
of Chancellor Dr. Abdul Zahir Mohtasebzadeh. English language instructors in two
departments of Herat University - the English Language and Literature Department and
the English Language and Computer Learning Center produced the textbooks under the
guidance of Senior English Language Specialist Dr. Suzanne M. Griffin, ESP Editor
Mr. Toufiq Sarwarzada and English Language Fellow Lisa Roegner.
The project was initiated because Herat University English instructors and their
students had discovered that commercially available ESP textbooks were inadequate to
the needs of Afghan students in specific departments of the university. English instructors
began developing their skills as ESP materials writers in spring 2012, through a series of
workshops and individual mentoring sessions that focused on developing lesson plans
with sufficient detail to guide the classroom lessons for future ESP instructors. The goal
of their work was to help Herat University undergraduate students successfully read
the textbooks, journal articles and online resources written in English in nine discipline
areas: Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Humanities, Journalism, Medicine,
Public Administration, Sciences and Sociology.
In autumn 2012 ten instructors combined their efforts and worked in teams to
develop their lessons into textbook materials while four instructors continued to
develop textbook materials individually. The instructors’ work was guided by a
leadership team that consisted of the department heads of the English Language and
Literature Department and the English Language Center, as well as the ESP Section
head and the ESP textbook editor in the English Language and Literature Department
and led by the American English Language Specialist. The English Department Head
of Herat Education University actively participated in the workshops and later joined
the leadership team. The project goal is to produce four books in each discipline area
by 2014.
The spring and autumn activities--workshops, consultant contracts for the English
Language Specialist and printing of the first textbooks--were supported by two grants
from English Language Programs Office in the Public Affairs Section of the United States
Embassy, Kabul. The second grant was administered by the United States Consulate in
Herat.
Dr. Suzanne Griffin
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks are due to the following persons for support of the Herat
University ESP Project:
Chancellor Mir Ghulam Osman Barez Hosseini, Herat University (2009- Oct.
2012)
Chancellor Dr. Abdul Zahir Mohtasebzadeh (Oct. 2012- )
Stephen Hanchey, English Language Programs (ELP) Officer, Public Affairs
Section (PAS) United States (US) Embassy, Kabul
Professor M. Hanif Hamid - ELP Office, PAS, US Embassy Kabul
Mr. Bradford Hanson, US Consul, Herat (2011- Oct. 2012)
Ms. Lisa Roegner, English Language Fellow at Herat University and Herat
Education University - ESP Textbook Editor
Dr. Suzanne Griffin, Project Director, Senior English Language Specialist
Consultant to US Embassy, Kabul
Heads of the English Language and Literature Department:

Mr. Abdul Wahab Shams 2011- Summer 2012
Ms. Muzhgan Azizi Autumn 2012
Ms. Homaira Baher 2013
Professor Yarmand, English Department Head, Herat Education University

Mr. Najibullah Habibi, English Language Center Director, Herat University
Table of Contents
Unit 1. A Life in Journalism 6

Unit 2. The Role of Media in Today’s Society 11
Unit 3. Social Media 16
Unit 4. Checking Online Sources 21
Unit 5. Writing for the Web 26
Unit 6. Writing for Broadcast 32
Unit 7. Denying Of Allegations 40
Unit 8. Newspapers 44
Unit 9. Writing for the Mass Media 46
Unit 10. Writing News 56
Unit 11. Hard News and Features 61
Unit 12. Finding the Focus 65
Unit 13. How to Conduct an Interview 69
Unit 14. Virtual Interview 75
Unit 15. Effective Note Taking 79
Unit 16. Citizen Journalism 84
Unit 17. Media Convergence 88
Unit 18. Blogs in Public Relations and Marketing 92
Unit 19. Ethical Issues 97
Unit 20. Quotes and Attribution 101
1 A Life in Journalism
Introduction to the lesson
Discuss the following questions in pairs.
1. Do you know any famous Afghan journalists? Why are they famous?
2. Do you think a journalist has an easy life? Why?
Unit 1 A Life in Journalism 6

Vocabulary
Activity
Match the definitions with the words:
Words # Definition
1. Someone who describes events as
Host
they happen for television or the radio
2. Someone who controls the content of
Editor
a magazine, newspaper
3. Someone who introduces the guests
Critic
on a TV program
4. Someone who gives opinions about a
Correspondent
book, film or TV program
5. A journalist who works for several
Commentator organizations and is paid for the work by
the hour or words
6. Someone who reports news for a
Freelance newspaper, radio or TV, often from a
different country
Listenning
Listen to your teacher reading the following passage. Write the missing words
or phrases.
In 1946 the focus of Cooke’s career moved from print to…………………… journalism with
his celebrated program ‘Letter from America’. His weekly, personal ………………….. on
US current affairs was broadcast for more than 5O years and many listeners actually
…………….. he was American by birth. He ……………….. everything from life in post war
America to the September 11th attacks on the twin towers. Cooke’s ………………….
knowledge of US history, coupled with having spent most of his life there, allowed
him to put events into both a personal and historic context.
Reading
A Life in Journalism
Alistair Cooke was best known in America as the host of the innovative
cultural program "Omnibus" in the 1950’s and then of the long-running series
"Masterpiece Theater". His work, however, extended far beyond broadcasting
on television.

Born in Salford, near Manchester, in the north of England, his interest in
journalism first showed itself whilst studying at Cambridge University, where he
was the editor of ‘The Granta’, a student magazine. After graduating, he left for
the USA and wasted little time in pursuit of his ambition to work for the BBC.
He secured a job as the corporation’s film critic when Oliver Baldwin, the son of
the British prime minister, gave up the job in 1934. His early career also included
periods working as a correspondent for both the Times and the Daily Herald. He
was a broadcaster for NBC and made several appearances for the BBC during the
war as both a commentator and news reporter.
In 1945, his freelance work on the founding conference of the UN led to the
editor of the Manchester Guardian offering him the post of UN correspondent
and then as US foreign correspondent – a post he held until 1972. During this
time he won acclaim for his account of the JFK assassination, which he composed
from TV broadcasts with the help of his 14-year-old daughter, and also for his
report of Bobby Kennedy’s murder in the Ambassador Hotel – Cooke was there
at the time of the assassination.
In 1946 the focus of Cooke’s career moved from print to broadcast journalism
with his celebrated program ‘Letter from America’. His weekly, personal reflection
on US current affairs was broadcast for more than 5O years and many listeners
actually believed he was American by birth. He covered everything from life in
post war America to the September 11th attacks on the twin towers. Cooke’s
exceptional knowledge of US history, coupled with having spent most of his life
there, allowed him to put events into both a personal and historic context.
In 1952 he was awarded the Peabody Radio award for ‘Letter from America’ –
the equivalent of an Oscar. A few months later he was offered the job of hosting
the TV arts series ‘Omnibus’ on which he interviewed Frank Lloyd Wright and
Leonard Bernstein performed regularly. ‘Omnibus’ appeared on TV from 1952
to 1961. His TV career continued with thirteen episodes of ‘Alistair Cooke's
America’. Cooke’s personal view of US history and the accompanying book were
both a huge success and secured the financial security that had been lacking for
much of his career in journalism.
Cook continued to work on ‘Letter from America’ into his nineties; the final
episode was aired just three weeks before his death. Alistair Cooke died at his
home in New York in 2004, aged 95.
Citation: http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-1-3.htm, Adapted by: Dr.

Suzanne Griffin

After you Read
❶ Activity
Match the words with the definitions:
Words # Definition
Interesting or unusual details or
A. Leading question
qualities
Something which the speaker doesn’t
B. Color
want included in the story
Question about what a person thinks
C. Interview
or feels
Question which tricks someone into
D. Opinion question
giving the answer you want
E. Interviewer Person who answers the questions
F. Off the record Person who asks the questions
Meeting where someone makes a
G. Press conference public statement and reporters ask
questions
❷ Activity
Mark the statements as True or False.
1. Cook worked exclusively in television. ..........

2. Cook’s first job for the BBC was as a news reporter. ..........
3. Cook worked as a freelance for the Manchester Guardian until 1972. ..........
4. In 1946 began to work principally on radio and TV projects. ..........
5. Cook earned a lot of money throughout his career. ..........
6. “Letter from America” continued until 2004. ..........
❸ Activity
Write the past form of these verbs:
1. Extend …………………. Spend ……………………..

2. Show …………………… Believe …………………...
3. Give …………………….. Appear …………………...
4. Make …………………… Continue ………………...
5. Hold …………………….. Interview ………………...
6. Win ……………………… Celebrate …………………

❹ Activity
Here is some more vocabulary from the text. Match the words and expressions
with the definitions.
Words # Definitions
1. Current affairs a. A description of an event
2. Print journalism b. Newspapers and magazines
c. News program on the radio or
3. To interview
television
d. Important social or political events
4. Report
of the moment
e. To transmit a program on television
5. Broadcast
on the radio
f. To write or talk about a particular
6. Broadcast journalism
subject
g. To ask someone questions on a TV
7. To cover
or radio
h. One program of a series of radio or
8. Episode
TV
Writing
Write a five line paragraph about the life of an Afghan journalist whose life is
full of achievements and adventures.

2 The Role of Media in Today’s
Society
Introduction to the Lesson
1. What do you think of the role of media in enhancing public awareness?

2. How have media affected your way of thinking?
Unit 2 The Role of Media in Today’s Society 11

Vocabulary
Read the words with their synonyms and practice the pronunciations of the
words.
Words Synonyms
Exaggerate overstate
Significant important
Various different
Occupy to keep busy
Responsibility duty
Huge enormous
Convey express or pass on
Brave courageous
Priority preference
Struggle bear upon
Affect fight or make an effort
Perceive sense
Available accessible
Denial rejection
Listenning
or phrases.
In today’s world, ………….. has made a very special place for itself in our lives.
If we say that today, media have become as ………………. as food and clothing,
and then we don’t think so that we are over ……………….. anything. There is no
………………that media play a very significant role in making the world smaller.
Through various ……………. of media whether it is radio, television, newspaper
or internet, we are able to connect with large number of people around us.
The ……………. has become the need of many ………………. both for their work
and for connecting with friends and well-wishers. Facebook and Twitter have
………………. such special places in their lives that if they are not a part of it, then
they feel that there is something really important that they are missing.

Reading
The Role of Media in Today’s Society
In today’s world, media has made a very special place for itself in our lives. If we say that
today, media have become as important as food and clothing, and then we don’t think so
that we are over exaggerating anything. There is no denial that media play a very significant
role in making the world smaller. Through various mediums of media whether it is radio,
television, newspaper or internet, we are able to connect with large number of people
around us. The internet has become the need of many individuals both for their work and for
connecting with friends and well-wishers. Facebook and Twitter have occupied such special
places in their lives that if they are not a part of it, then they feel that there is something
really important that they are missing.
Besides connecting us with our friends, media also informs us about the world happenings.
Media are the mirrors of the society because they reflect everything about the society to us.
Media people from television and print risk their lives to inform us about important news. In
some situations brave journalists, without considering the danger to their own lives, take the
responsibility of making the general population aware of the truth it is almost impossible to
imagine a life without media.
But we cannot overlook the fact that commercialization is also coming in media. Media
has a huge responsibility of conveying the truth and relevant information to the common
man. There are still some ethical people in media who are struggling to maintain the real
purpose of media. But sometimes this responsibility of conveying the truth and relevant
information seems to be taking a back seat to popularity polls for media people who are
focusing more on commercialization. Nowadays, hot news which can help in increasing the
TRP rates or Target Rating Point of the channel becomes the priority for them.
Media is not just confined to informing us about the world happenings and serving a
means to connect with people. It affects out thinking patterns as well. The way we think
and perceive various issues about the world is also shaped up by media. Today everyone
especially youth are growing more aware about their responsibilities towards society
because of media.
When it comes to media, how can one forget to talk about the entertainment industry?
Entertainment makes our lives more enjoyable. Be it movies, radio, internet etc., media is just
everywhere in our lives. Today entertainment is so easily available that many people are able to
afford it. Music and movies are easily available to us for free or at low cost through the internet.
If we just look around then we would find that there are few aspects of our lives
which is not touched and affected by media. Be it our work, relationships, education or
entertainment, media is seen everywhere. And there is no denial that our lives would be
very different without media.

After you Read
❶ Activity
Discuss the following questions in groups of four:
1. According to the article, what’s the role of media in today’s society?

2. Do you believe media can affect people’s mind?
3. Do you think media can have dramatic impacts on Afghan’s people mind?
4. What role can media play in our society?
5. If you were a medium practitioner what would you do to benefit the Afghan people?
❷ Activity
Match the words with their synonyms:

Words # Definition
1. Exaggerate a. keep busy
2. Significant b. fight or make an effort
3. Various c. bear upon
4. Occupy d. preference
5. Responsibility e. overstate
6. Huge f. rejection
7. Convey g. different
8. Brave h. important
9. Priority i. accessible
10. Struggle j. sense
11. Affect k. enormous
12. Perceive l. duty
13. Available m. courageous
14. Denial n. express or pass on
Writing
What is paraphrase?
Express the meaning of (the writer or speaker or something written or

spoken) using different words, esp. to achieve greater clarity.
For example, "The signal was red" might be paraphrased as "The bus
was not allowed to pass because the signal was red".

Activity
Paraphrase the paragraph below and keep the coherence of the ideas.
In today’s world, media has made a very special place for itself in our lives. If
we say that today, media has become as important as food and clothing, and
then we don’t think so that we are over exaggerating anything. There is no
denial that media plays a very significant role in making the world smaller.
Citation: http://blog.abhinav.com/2010/08/the-role-of-media-in-today-society/, Adapted by: Dr. Suzanne Griffin

3 Social Media
1. Do you use any social media? Which ones?

2. What are some benefits of social media for you?
Unit 3 Social Media 16

Vocabulary
Read the words and their synonyms, and practice the pronunciation of the words.
Words Synonyms
Quite completely
Imagine assume
Handful amount that can be held in one hand, fistful
Platform program
Arena sphere, area
Lack be short of
Plain simply
Jump out leap out, stick out
Due to because of
Intensive highly concentrated
Mature full-grown, fully developed
Inclusive containing, take in
Impetus urge
Restrict limit
Encompass surround, enclose
Fulfill complete
mass communication (radio, newspaper,
Media
television…)
Perception intuition, understanding
Dish out assist, make easy
Facilitate give
Listenning
or phrases.
The ………………. of social media began in the early days of Internet when people
started sharing information and …………………..with each other. It was just that the
earlier platforms were more “technology” intensive and required some expertise
to use and ……………..the number of people using these …………..was limited.
Over a period of time as the technology matured, platforms were developed
where regular users, without any technological background, could also use the

……………. This was a turning point in the history of Internet, making the Internet
technology all………………, where people were no longer silent…………………..to the
content being dished out to them. Now they could create their own content,
share it with others, respond to people, and…………………… with them and more.
This user interaction is what gave………………. to the development of social media,
as we know it today.
Before you Read
Scan the passage and answer the following questions:
1. For what reasons people use social media?

2. When did social media run virtually?
Reading
Social Media
Social Media is a term that is used quite often these days. It is the new in-
thing and one would imagine that everyone knows or understands what social
media is. It is a fact that ninety percent of all online users use social media
in some way or the other. It is also a fact that most of these people will not
be able to name more than a handful of social media platforms besides the
ones that they are using. It may have been due to the pace of development in
the social media arena or just plain lack of interest in the developments that
makes it seem like social media jumped out of nowhere and took people by
surprise.
The emergence of social media began in the early days of internet when
people started sharing information and communicating with each other. It
was just that the earlier platforms were more “technology” intensive and
required some expertise to use and hence the number of people using these
platforms was limited. Over a period of time as the technology matured,
platforms were developed where regular users, without any technological
background, could also use the services. This was a turning point in the history
of internet, making the internet technology all inclusive, where people were
no longer silent spectators to the content being dished out to them. Now they
could create their own content, share it with others, respond to people, and
collaborate with them and more. This user interaction is what gave impetus to
the development of social media, as we know it today.

Contrary to the general perception of social media being restricted to
networking websites like Facebook & Twitter, the social media encompasses
all the services that facilitate creation, sharing and exchange of user-
generated content. These include but are not restricted to internet forums,
groups, blogs, micro-blogs, networking sites, social bookmarking sites, wikis,
podcasts, content communities for articles, video/photo sharing sites, Q&A
sites, review sites, etc… Each type of social media has its own benefits and
there is something for everyone. Unfortunately people tend to partake in the
most popular websites and expect them to fulfill all their needs instead of
settling for a service that best serves their needs. If one has focused objectives
and knows exactly what he wants, s/he would certainly find a social media
platform that will meet his/her particular needs.
After you Read
❶ Activity
Answer the following questions.
1. What are the two popular social media in the text?

2. Do you have account or membership in the aforementioned social media?
3. What do you normally do in these social media?
4. Do you think you can get benefit from these social media, if yes, in what ways?
5. Do you think everyone knows or understands what social media are?
6. What are the benefits of social media?
❷ Activity
According to the article mark the statements as True or False.

1. Social Media is a term that is used quite often these days. ..........
2. The emergence of social media began in the early days ..........
of internet when people started sharing information and
communicating with each other.
3. This user interaction is what given impetus to the development ..........
of social media, as we know it today?
4. Unfortunately people tend to partake in the most popular ..........
websites and expect them to fulfill all their needs instead of
settling for a service that best serve their needs.

4 Checking Online
Sources
1. Do you read information from online sources on the internet? If the answer
is yes, name some of the online sources that you use?
2. Do you read the online sources the same way that you read books, magazines
or newspapers if your answer is no, describe what you do differently.
3. What have you read on online sources about Afghanistan these days?
Unit 4 Checking Online Sources 20

Vocabulary
Read the words and their definitions and practice the pronunciations of the words.
Words Definitions
If you treat someone or something in a particular
1. Treat way, you behave towards them, or deal with them in
that way.
The resources of a country, organization, or person
2. Resource
are the things they have and can use.
If something embarrasses you, it makes you feel shy
3. Embarrass
or ashamed.
People or ideas that are part of the mainstream are
4. Mainstream
regarded as normal.
When a company publishes a book or magazine, it
5. Publish
prints copies of it, which are sent to shops and sold.
You use confirmed to describe someone who has
6. Confirmed a particular habit or belief that they are unlikely to
change.
Someone's domain is the area where they have
7. Domain
control or influence; a formal word.
A hoax is a trick in which someone tells people
8. Hoax
something that is not true.
A register is an official list or record of names,
9. Register
objects, events, and so on.
If something confirms what you believe, it shows
10. Confirm
that it is definitely true.
Listenning
or phrases.
The internet is a great …………….. for journalists, as long as the information found
is treated with caution. Journalists, more than anyone, should know not to
believe everything they read. In the past it was ………………………. easy to check
out the credentials of a book, newspaper or magazine, but in the …………… age
anyone can make a professional looking website and publish whatever they
want.
Hoax stories do quite often make it into the …………………….. media. In one

famous case Reuters ………………. a story about Pol Pot visiting Sweden. A Reuter’s
journalist had seen a website showing photos of PolPot arriving at a Swedish
airport and, believing the site to be the official site of a Russian news agency,
filed the report. Reuters put the story on the wire and to their embarrassment
………………………. later that it was a hoax created by a Swedish web design
company.
Reading
Checking Online Sources
The internet is a great resource for journalists, as long as the information

found is treated with caution. Journalists, more than anyone, should know not
to believe everything they read. In the past it was relatively easy to check out the
credentials of a book, newspaper or magazine, but in the digital age anyone can
make a professional looking website and publish whatever they want.
Hoax stories do quite often make it into the mainstream media. In one famous
case Reuters published a story about Pol Pot visiting Sweden. A Reuter’s journalist
had seen a website showing photos of Pol Pot arriving at a Swedish airport and,
believing the site to be the official site of a Russian news agency, filed the report.
Reuters put the story on the wire and to their embarrassment discovered later
that it was a hoax created by a Swedish web design company.
So how could the unfortunate journalist have avoided the embarrassment? If
he had looked up who owned the site, he would have realized that it had nothing
to do with a news agency. All owners of domain names have to register with a
Network Information Center (NIC), and these data is available to the public. You
simply have to go to the appropriate NIC, and type in the domain name. For all
.com domain names this is the INTERNIC.
A query to INTERNIC would have told the journalist that the domain name was
owned by a Swedish company, and given him contact addresses and telephone
numbers. He would have known that it was very unlikely to be the site of a Russian
news agency, and a telephone call could have confirmed his suspicions.
As well as checking out the owner of a site, there are other criteria you can
use to decide if a site is useful and reliable. Is the content original and current?
Just because the information is new to you, doesn’t mean it is necessarily up-to
date. Does the site represent a specific cause or issue? Is the information fair and
balanced? Many sites have an ‘About’ page which gives data about the owner,
authors and editorial policy.

Finally, treat information gathered from the internet like any other information.
Double-check the facts whenever possible and if you’re not sure about the veracity
of a story, don’t publish it.
After you Read
❶ Activity
1. Do you think whatever we find on the internet are reliable?

2. How internet could help the journalists?
3. Should we believe the reliability of the information on the internet?
4. What are the criteria we can check in order to understand whether the data
are correct?
❷ Activity
Discuss the following questions in groups.

1. Do you check regularly online sources?
2. If so, which online sources did you find most interesting?
3. Do you see the internet as a great resource for journalists?
Writing
❶ Activity
Make sentences with these disorder words:
1. Do / it / the/ Hoax / often / in / stories/ media/ to / make /mainstream/

quite/. /
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. And /content/ and/ current /the /original /? /
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Nothing/ he /had/ do/ realized / would / news/ that / have/ agency/ with/
a/ to /it/. /
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. The / or/ site/ does/ issue/ specific/ a/ represent/ cause/? /
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. The/ go/ appropriate/ to/ have/ simply/ to/. /
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

❷ Activity
There is some advice about checking online sources in the reading. Write a
short article about online sources. Write how to get there, where to stay and
what to do.

Citation: http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-1-3.htm, Adapted by: Dr.

Suzanne Griffin


5 Writing for the Web
1. What are some of the websites you visit regularly for reading news?
2. Which one do you like better: news websites or print media? Why?
Unit 5 Writing for the Web 25

Vocabulary
Read the words with their definitions and practice the pronunciation of the
words.
Words Definitions
Significant Something that is significant is important.
A headline is the title of a newspaper story,
Headline
printed in large letters.
The caption of a picture or cartoon is the
Caption
words printed underneath.
Something that is effective produces the
Effective
intended results.
A guideline is a piece of advice about how to
Guideline
do something.
A meaningful sentence or event has a
Meaningful
meaning that you can understand.
If you restrict something, you put a limit on it
Restrict
to stop it becoming too large.
Something that is unnecessary is not needed
Unnecessary
or does not have to be done.
A particular sequence is the order in which
Sequence
things happen or are arranged.
A bullet is a small piece of metal which is fired
Bullet
from a gun.
You use rather to say that something is the
Rather
case to a slight extent.
Someone who is ruthless is very harsh or
Ruthless determined, and will do anything that is
necessary to achieve their aim.
Reading
Writing for the Web
Studies show that people read differently on the Web. They read
significantly more slowly than reading print. They scan for headlines,
summaries and captions, and pay little attention to graphics. They skip
from Web page to Web page. Research shows that most people read article

summaries rather complete articles. To be effective, Web writing needs to take
these factors into account. Here are some guidelines:
Some Guidelines:
 Make the headline meaningful: It should summarize the article. A well-

written headline helps readers decide if they want to read on.
 Use the inverted pyramid style: Start with the conclusion, then
summarize the most important and interesting information. Details and
background information come last.
 Keep paragraphs short and restrict them to one idea: Short paragraphs
are easier to understand and easier on the eye.
 Be concise: Web articles are much shorter than print articles. Cut
unnecessary words. When rewriting print texts for the web, cut them by at
least 50%.
 Use short, familiar words in simple sentence structures, edit your writing
ruthlessly.
 Write meaningful captions for graphics: Web readers focus on text rather
than graphics, so captions are important.
 Lists facilitate scanning: They highlight impotent and slow the reader
down. If the order doesn’t matter, use bullet points. If the sequence is
important, use numbered points.
After you Read
❶ Activity
Read these guidelines for the Web and match the beginnings and endings of
the sentences.
1. When people read on the Web a. shorter than print articles.

2. Most people read summaries, b. more slowly
3. In the inverted pyramid style c. should summarize the article.
4. The headline d. the conclusion comes first.
5. Paragraphs should contain f. short and easily understood.
6. Web articles should be much g. good captions.
7. Words should be h. only one idea.
8. Graphics need i. they scan and skip.
9. People read lists j. not full articles.

❷ Activity
Complete the sentences with the given words:
summary concise Scan familiar conclusion caption
1. When people …………………… they read quickly to look for specific

information.
2. A ………………….. gives the main information about something but not all the
details.
3. A …………………… rationally comes at the end of a piece of writing.
4. If something is ………………….. it is short and clear without unnecessary words.
5. If something is …………………… it is easily recognized and understood.
6. A …………………… ex plains what a picture is showing.
Listening
Listen to this paragraph then answer the following questions:
In a report in today’s Daily Times, Geoffrey Dunmore, the Minister for Education,
is alleged to have received cash and property in exchange for awarding a major
government contract to construction giants Melcon. The newspaper claims it
has proof that Dunmore accepted several gifts of cash and a holiday home over
a period of two years prior to giving Melcon a lucrative contract to construct 10
new schools. According to his secretary, Geoffrey Dunmore is not available for
comment on the matter.
1. What Geoffrey Dunmore said he has received?
a. Money and a holiday home.

b. A job with a big construction firm.
c. A contract to build schools.
2. What did he give to Melcon in exchange?
a. A contract to build holiday homes.

b. Money
c. A contract to build schools.

Grammar
The simple present is used:

1. To express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging
situations, emotions and wishes:
I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a
large city (general truth)
2. To give instructions or directions:

You walk for two hundred meters, then you turn left.
3. To express fixed arrangements, present or future:

Your exam starts at 09:00
4. to express future time, after some conjunctions: after, when, before,

as soon as, until:
He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.
Simple present, third person singular
Note:
1. he, she, it: in the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:
He wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks.
2. Negative and question forms use DOES (=the third person of the
auxiliary’ DO') + the infinitive of the verb.
He wants. Does he want? He does not want.
3. Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies:

fly----flies, cry----cries
Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:
play----plays, pray----prays
4. Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch:
he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes

Activity
Choose the best answer:
1. Studies show that people ………………. differently on the Web.

a. read  b. reads  c. readed  d. reading 
2. Research ……………that most people read article summaries rather complete

articles.
a. Will show  b. showed  c. shows  d. show 
3. Short paragraphs ………………easier to understand and easier on the eye.

a. Is  b. was  c. were  d. are 
4. Web ……………are much shorter than print articles.

a. Articles  b. article  c. articling  d. articled 
5. They ……………from Web page to Web page.

a. Skip  b. skipping  c. skips  d. skipped 
Writing
Pretend you are working for a news Web. Write a paragraph about an event
which you found interesting and you would like to share with your Web users
to know about.
Citation: http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-1-3.htm, Adapted by: Dr. Suzanne Griffin

6 Writing for Broadcast
1. Do you think writing for broadcast is different from writing for newspapers?
2. In your opinion, what are the significant tips for writing for TV and radio?
3. Have you ever written for broadcast?
Unit 6 Writing for Broadcast 31

Vocabulary
Read the words and their synonyms and practice the pronunciations of the
words.
Words Synonyms
Pervasive infiltrating, distributive
Broadcast transmit, send
small electrical component used to amplify
Transistor
voltage
Coverage reporting
Consider take into account, think over
Complain express displeasure
Vulnerable unprotected
Hostile antagonistic, unfriendly
Immediacy quality of being immediate, directness
Intelligence word
Diligence perseverance
Dependability reliability
practice an action repeatedly in order to perfect
Rehearse
it
Thoroughly comprehensively
Listening
Now, listen to this paragraph read by the teacher. Fill in the blanks with the
words you hear:
Broadcasting is the world’s most ………………. medium of mass communication. It

is not unusual for the American home to receive fifty or more television channels
via its cable system or satellite dish. A wide variety of radio stations has been
………………….. to anyone with a receiver since the early days of the medium.
…………………….. areas that cannot get access to even a newspaper will usually
have a transistor radio to link it with the rest of the world. Satellite …………………….
has drawn the world closer together (although not always with positive results)
by ensuring that we have instant, live …………………… of major news events from
almost anywhere in the world and even beyond.

Reading
Writing for Broadcast
Broadcasting is the world’s most pervasive medium of mass communication.

It is not unusual for the American home to receive fifty or more television
channels via its cable system or satellite dish. A wide variety of radio stations
has been available to anyone with a receiver since the early days of the
medium. Underdeveloped areas that cannot get access to even a newspaper
will usually have a transistor radio to link it with the rest of the world.
Satellite broadcasting has drawn the world closer together (although not
always with positive results) by ensuring that we have instant, live coverage
of major news events from almost anywhere in the world and even beyond.
Consider the following:
• When Americans first landed on the moon in 1969, a television camera was
positioned outside the lunar lander to record the event.
• When Prince Charles, heir to the throne of England, Married Lady Diana
Spencer in 1981, television cameras were at every part of the event.
• In late 1992, when U.S. Marines invaded Somalia, their landing was met
not by hostile forces but by American, European, and Asian television crews
who broadcast live pictures of the event all around the world. (The Marines,
in fact, complained that the television lights made them more vulnerable to
hostile fire.)
• The automobile accident in Paris that took the life of Princess Diana in
1997 was not recorded, of course, but her funeral a week later was watched
by people in almost every part of the world.
• The collapse of the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11. 2001 had an
audience of millions because television cameras focused on the scene from
the first moments of the attack.
In the United States, broadcasting delivers information with immediacy and

impact. Most Americans get their news from a variety of sources, and it would
be a mistake to believe that broadcasting is always the dominant medium
in this regard. Newspapers, news magazines, and websites deliver a large
amount of information to the American public and will continue to do so, but
broadcasting is often perceived as dominant. More than 6,000 local radio

and television stations in the United States (and thousands more shortwave
radio operators) are broadcasting, in contrast to 1,700 daily newspapers.
A person who wants to succeed in the field of broadcasting needs to have
intelligence, diligence, dependability - and the ability to write. Even though
broadcasting is an audiovisual medium, almost everything you hear or see in
the way of news or entertainment has been written down. The occasions for
ad libbing before the cameras are relatively rare and even the “spontaneous”
lines that some broadcasters deliver are written and rehearsed. Broadcasters
consider air time too valuable to leave to chance. Even reporters dong live
news spots often work from notes and have a good understanding of the
forms of writing for the medium.
Broadcasters look for the same qualities in writers that have been discussed
in other parts of this book. They want people who know the language and fits
rules of other parts of this book. They want people who know the language
and its rules of usage; who are willing to research their subjects thoroughly
and understand them well enough to report on them with clarity: who do
not mind working hard: and who are willing to rewrite their work and have
it rewritten by others. In addition, they are particularly interested in people
who can write under pressure and can meet deadlines.
Writing for broadcasting is similar in many ways to writing for the print
media, but there are some important differences. Those differences concern
the way in which news is selected for broadcast, the characteristics of writing
and story structure, and the style with which the information is presented.
After you Read
❶ Activity
1. What was the reading about?

2. Is writing for broadcast similar to writing for the print media? How is writing
for broadcast different from writing for newspapers?
3. In order to succeed in the field of broadcasting what are the important
characteristics someone should have?

❷ Activity
Fill in the blanks with these words:
similar field sources immediacy diligence websites

a wide
coverage consider broadcasting pervasive
variety of
1. Broadcasting is the world’s most ………………… medium of mass communication.

2. ……………………… radio stations have been available to anyone with a receiver
since the early days of the medium.
3. Satellite ………………………. has drawn the world closer together by ensuring that
we have instant, live ………………..of major news events from almost anywhere in
the world and even beyond.
4. Broadcasting delivers information with ……………………and impact. Most
Americans get their news from a variety of ……………….
5. …………………… deliver a large amount of information to the American public
6. A person who wants to succeed in the …………………. of broadcasting needs to
have intelligence, ………………….. dependability - and the ability to write.
7. Broadcasters ………………… air time too valuable to leave to chance.
8. Writing for broadcasting is ……………….. in many ways to writing for the print
media, but there are some important differences.
❸ Activity
Put the scrambled words in order:
1. radio stations/ A wide variety of / to anyone/ available / with a receiver

since/ has been/ the early/ days of the medium/./
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. / immediacy/ information/ delivers/ with/ impact/ and/ Broadcasting/./
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. / news magazines/, and /Newspapers / to the American public / deliver/
websites / information/ a large amount of /. /
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. for broadcasting /Writing/ in many ways / is similar/ for the print media / to
writing/./
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. broadcasting / Satellite / has drawn/ together / the world closer
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Speaking
Discuss the questions below in groups.
1. What is the difference between writing for newspapers and writing for
broadcast?
2. Have you ever tried to write for the broadcast or newspapers? If yes, what
have you written about?
3. Will you be able to write for broadcast after you graduate from the faculty?
4. What are some important tips reporters need to consider while writing for
broadcast?
Grammar
Present Perfect Functions:

The Present Perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and
the past. The time of the action is before now but not specified, and we
are often more interested in the result than in the action itself.
The present perfect is used to describe:
1. An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the

present. Example: I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
2. An action performed during a period that has not yet finished.

Example: She has been to the cinema twice this week (= and the week
isn't over yet.)
3. A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and

now. Example: We have visited Portugal several times.
4. An action that was completed in the very recent past, (expressed by

'just'). Example: I have just finished my work.
5. An action when the time is not important. Example: He has read

'War and Peace'. (the result of his reading is important)

Signal Examples Examples Examples
Tense Uses Form interrogative
words affirmative negative
action I have I haven't Have I

began been been been
in the working. working. working?
all day
past and
has just He has He hasn't Has he
been been been
the whole stopped
day working. working. working?
Present have/has
how long I have I haven't Have I
Perfect + been +
how long the action been been been
Continuous infinitive
has been going. going. going?
since happening + -ing
for emphasis: He has He hasn't Has he
length of been been been
time of an going. going. going?
action
Activity
Use the words in parentheses and complete the text below with the appropriate
tenses:
Robin: I think the waiter (forget) ……………… us. We (wait) …………….. here for over
half an hour and nobody (take) ……….............. our order yet.
Michele: I think you’re right. He (walk) …………………… by us at least twenty times.
He probably thinks we (order, already) ………………………....
Robin: look at that couple over there, they (be, only) ………………… here for five or
ten minutes and they already have their food.
Michele: He must realize we (order, not) ……………………….. yet! We (sit) ……………….
here for over half an hour staring him.
Robin: I don’t know if he (notice, even) ………………. us. He (run) …………………….
from table to table taking orders and serving food.
Michele: That’s true, and he (look, not) ………………………….. in our direction once.

Writing
Write a paragraph about the following question:

In your opinion, what are the significant tips for writing for broadcast?
Citation: Writing for the Mass Media, chapter 7, page 204

7 Denying of Allegations
Discuss the following questions in pairs:
1. Have you ever interviewed with any local, national or international channel?
If yes, what were you questioned about?
2. Is giving an interview stressful? Why?
3. What is important in an interview for the interviewer and for the
interviewee?
4. What are the things help us do better in an interview?
Unit 7 Denying Of Allegations 39

Vocabulary
Read the words and their definitions and practice the pronunciation of the words.
Words Definition
Strenuously energetically, zealously
Deny refuse; renounce
Allegation unfounded accusation, charge
Property possessions, belongings; ownerships
Giant enormous
Constituency electoral district
Fabrication falsehood
Allege aver, say
Prior former
Lucrative: profitable, gainful
Reading
Denying of Allegations
Geoffrey Dunmore, the Minister for Education, has strenuously denied

allegations that he received cash and property in exchange for a warding a major
government contract to contraction giant Melcon. Speaking from his North
London constituency, he said that the story, report in today’s Daily Times, was
a complete fabrication, and that he had never received any gifts from Melcon
or any other companies during his 3 years as education minister. Dunmore is
alleged to have accepted several gifts of cash and a holiday home over a period
of two years prior to giving Melcon a lucrative contract to construct 10 new
schools.
Listening
words you hear:
New presenter: There has been a dramatic new development in the cash
for contracts scandal. Following a story in this morning’s Daily Times alleging
that Geoffrey Dunmore, the Minister for Education, revived cash and property
in exchange for awarding a major contract to Melcon, Mr. Dunmore has had

a meeting with the prime Minister, in which he is believed to have offered his
resignation. The Minister for Education is said to have accepted several gifts of
cash and holiday home over a period of two years prior to awarding Melcon
a contract to construct 10 new schools. In a statement issued this morning,
Mr. Dunmore denied these allegations, but further revelations from a former
Melcon employee have resulted in calls for the Minister’s resignation. I believe
we can go live now to London Street where Geoffrey Dunmore is about to speak.
Man: The Minister for Education, Geoffrey Dunmore, is now going to make a
statement.
Dunmore: (sounds of someone moving towards a microphone) I’ve earned,

I’ve just had a meeting with the prime Minister, during which I offered my
resignation as Minister for Education. The Prime Minister has accepted my
resignation. I would like to take this opportunity to say that I deeply regret the
embarrassment I have caused the prime minister and the government. I would
like to thank my family and friends, who have stood by me.
Activity
Work in pairs and choose the best answer to these questions:
1. What happened in the meeting between Geoffrey Dunmore and the Prime
Minister?
a. The prime Minister asked Geoffrey Dunmore to resign.

b. Geoffrey Dunmore denied the allegations.
c. Geoffrey Dunmore offered to resign.
2. Did the prime Minister accept the resignation?

a. Yes
b. No
3. Did Geoffrey Dunmore admit that he receive money and a holiday home
from Melcon?
a. Yes
b. No

Writing
Write a paragraph about a journalist who has violated journalism rules and he
was accused of violated rules, how he/she denied the allegations.
Citation: http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-1-3.htm

8 Newspapers
1. Do you read newspaper?

2. What is the hottest news you lately have read in the newspapers?
3. Do you think newspapers have any impact on Afghan society?
4. Do you like to write for newspapers as a civic journalist?
Unit 8 Newspapers 43
Vocabulary
Read the words and their definitions and practice the pronunciation of the
words.
Words Definition
Vignette sketch, description
Contemporary modern, current
Increasingly more and more
Significant important
Upheaval sudden disruption or disturbance
Actual substantial, real
Motivated inspired
Strengthen make strong, fortify, reinforce,
Indispensable absolutely necessary, essential, vital
Crucial very important
Comment make a remark
Assemble gather together, put together
Throughout in every part
Establish set up, found
Conflict quarrel, fight
Civic pertaining to citizenship
Solution act or process of solving a problem or question
Listening
words you hear:
The opening vignette makes an important point about ……………………. newspapers

– they are working hard to secure new …………………….. for themselves in an
increasingly crowded media environment. As a medium and as an industry,
newspapers are poised at the edge of a …………………. change in their role and
operation. The changing relationship between ………………… and …………….. is part
of this upheaval. Newspapers have faced similar ……………….. more than once in
the past and have survived.
Reading
Newspapers
A short History of Newspapers

The opening vignette makes an important point about contemporary newspapers
– they are working hard to secure new identities for themselves in an increasingly
crowded media environment. As a medium and as an industry, newspapers are
poised at the edge of a significant change in their role and operation. The changing
relationship between newspapers and readers is part of this upheaval. Newspapers
have faced similar challenges more than once in the past and have survived.
Civic Journalism
This chapter’s opening vignette was based on an actual example of Civic Journalism
(sometimes referred to as Public Journalism) - a newspaper actively engaging the
community in reporting important civic issues - which was attempted in 1996 by a
group of news papers in North Carolina (Effron, 1997). These efforts at “interactive
journalism” are motivated in part by a drive to strengthen the identity of the paper as
an indispensable local medium, thereby attracting readers and boosting revenues.
This activism further differentiates newspapers from other media in the chase for
advertising dollars. But papers are also trying Civic Journalism specifically to do good
for the communities of which they themselves are members.
Civic journalism happens in a number of ways. Some newspapers devote significant

resources to in-depth and long-running coverage of crucial community issues,
interviewing citizens as subjects of the stories and inviting comment and debate
through various “Hotline” or “Open Forum” sections of their papers. Other newspapers
establish citizen councils to advise them on missed opportunities for coverage. Others
assemble citizen panels that meet at regular intervals throughout a political campaign
or other ongoing story. Citizen reaction to developments in those events is reported as
news. Still others establish citizen roundtables to provide insight on crucial issues, for
example, race and education. In these discussions people from different constituencies
in the community - often holding quite conflicting perceptions of the problem - come
together to talk out their differences. This interaction is reported as news, and the
papers’ editorial writers offer commentary and suggestions for solution.
As we also saw in the vignette, civic journalism is not universally embraced by

the newspaper community. Critics contend that too much professional journalistic
judgment is given away to people whose interest and concerns are too personal and
too narrow. Others claim that the heavy focus on a particular issue in civic journalism
distorts the public agenda. Still, the civic journalism “experiment” continues.
After you Read
❶ Activty
Match the words with their synonyms:
Words # Synonyms
Vignette a. inspired
Contemporary b. make a remark
Increasingly c. substantial, real
Significant d. more and more
Upheaval e. sudden disruption or disturbance
Actual f. very important
Motivated g. modern, current
Strengthen h. important
Indispensable i. in every part
Crucial j. pertaining to citizenship
Comment k. make strong, fortify, reinforce
l. act or process of solving a problem or
Assemble
question
Throughout m. absolutely necessary, essential, vital,
Establish n. quarrel, fight
Conflict o. sketch, description
Civic p. set up, found
Solution q. gather together, put together
❷ Activity
Answer the following questions:
1. Retell what have you learned in the history of newspapers?

2. What does civic journalism cope with?
3. What is another term for civic journalism?
4. What was very interesting to you about civic journalism in this lesson which
you have not come up with before?
❸ Activity
Discuss the questions below in groups:
1. What do you think of Afghanistan’s newspapers?

2. What important things should be printed in newspapers?
3. Are you an avid reader, if yes, do you read newspapers?
4. What is the hottest news in newspapers these days?
5. What is your favorite newspaper you usually read?
Writing
Write a paragraph about the question below:

How media can work more effectively for Afghanistan?
Citation: Introduction to Mass Communication Third Edition Stanley J. Baran, Chapter 4, Newspapers,
9 Writing for the Mass Media
1. What does "mass media" mean?

3. Do you think writing for the mass media is a difficult task?
4. In what section of mass media do you like to work as a journalist?
Unit 9 Writing for the Mass Media 48

Vocabulary
Read the words and their synonyms and practice the pronunciations of the words.
Words Definition
Informative instructive, educational
Audience viewers
Aspect point of view
Inform notify, tell on
Hone improve efficiency
Versatility state of having many abilities or functions
Involve include
Throughout in every part
Agility ease of movement
Pursue chase after, follow
Assumption hypothesis, act of talking
Vital crucial
Chronological arranged in order of occurrence
Conform become similar, be in harmony
Convention conference
Dramatic impressive
Simplicity absence of complexity
Efficiency competence, productivity
Persuasive convincing
Practitioner one who works in a profession or career
Peculiarly remarkably
Linear resembling lines, additive
Hierarchical arranged according to rank
Restrictive limiting, constraining
Typographical
Headline large type at the beginning of an article
Precise exact

Reading
Writing for the Mass Media
The principles of good writing such as those listed in the previous section apply
to any type of writing. The good English theme has much in common with the
good news story or the good letter to Mom or the informative label on a bottle of
aspirin. These pieces of writing have different purposes and different audiences,
and they express different ideas. But good writing is good writing.
Writing for the mass media differs from other forms of writing in several aspects.
Subject Matter
Writers for the mass media must take on a wide variety of subjects and use a
variety of formats, including news stories, feature stories, advertisements, letters,
and editorials.
Purpose
Writing for the mass media has three major purposes: to inform, entertain, or
persuade.
Audience
Mass media often takes place in the presence of others who are doing the
same thing. The writing is frequently done under deadline pressure, and many
times several people will have a hand in writing and editing a particular item for
the mass media.
Becoming a professional
Much of what has been discussed in this chapter has revolved around the
qualities and skill necessary to be a professional writer. These who want to make
a career of writing in a media environment have to develop these personal and
professional qualities and must hone their skills.
One quality that we have not discussed yet is versatility. Rarely do media
professionals stay with their first job. Even more rarely does their career involve
just one type of writing. Most professionals will have a variety of jobs throughout
their career, and they will be called on to write in various forms and structures.
Developing a professional agility will be a valuable asset to anyone who pursues a
writing career.
This book, in fact, is based on the assumption that al writers need to learn

a variety of from to survive in the mass media. Here student will learn some of
the basic principles of good writing - techniques. Students will read about the
importance of using Standard English well and the vital role that a stylebook will
play in their daily work. They will also be introduced to some of the basic forms of
writing.
One of the most important forms is the Inverted Pyramid structure of news
writing. This structure demands that information be presented in order of its
importance rather than in chronological order. The writing must also conform to
certain journalistic conventions, such as attribution and proper identification of
persons mentioned in the story.
Broadcast writing — writing that is written to be read aloud and heard –

demands a different structure, dramatic unity, that emphasizes simplicity and
efficiency.
Writing advertising copy requires that writers have a facility with the language
so that they can use information for persuasive effects.
Writing for publish relations calls for wide versatility on the part of practitioners.
In most public relations jobs, writers must use the inverted pyramid, good letter-
writing structures, and broadcast and advertising techniques.
Writing for the World Wide Web combines all of these structures, techniques,
and forms. Still, there is a type of writing on the Web that is almost peculiarly its
own. That type of writing has its base in a concept called hypertext. Prose writing
is linear; that is, the reader begins at the beginning and reads through to the end.
Hypertext is nonlinear; the text is broken into bits and structured so that a reader
can begin at any number of points and decide which sequence suits his or her
purposes. These bits of writing should relate to the whole, but they also need to
stand by themselves within the context of the entire article or website. They are
generally hierarchical; that is, they go from the general to the specific. But because
the Web offers readers the opportunity to move quickly from one item to another,
the writer must also look for opportunities to link parts of the writing with other
parts to make it easier for the reader to move around. This means that the writer
needs to anticipate how a reader might navigate within a website.
Another demand on writers using the hypertext structure is the ability to write
headlines subheads, and summaries. Writing headlines and subheads for the Web
is far less restrictive than writing them for newspapers or magazines in terms of
making them fit into a certain space. Web writers are likely to have many more
options and fewer typographical rules than the headline writer for newspapers.

But their ability to summarize, whether in headline, subhead, or summary form,
will be severely tested, just as it is in traditional media. Summaries demand precise
and concise use of the language. They also demand that the writer understand the
material being summarized so well that he or she can do it accurately. Summarizing
is a skill that is essential to web writer.
After you Read
❶ Activity
Scan the passage above and answer these questions:
1. What is a good pattern of writing for the mass media?

2. Does writing for the mass media differ from other forms of writing?
3. What is the subject matter in mass media?
4. What do journalists elaborate in the purpose section of mass media?
5. What do audiences expect from mass media?
6. How to become a professional writer for mass media?
7. What does “developing a professional agility” mean in mass media?
8. What is the concept of inverted pyramid?
9. What are the differences of the following writings?
• Broadcast writing
• Writing advertising
• Writing for publish
• Writing for the World Wide Web
❷ Activity
Match the words with their synonyms
Words # Synonyms
Informative a. improve efficiency
Audience b. conference
Aspects c. arranged in order of occurrence
Inform d. hypothesis, act of talking
Hone e. instructive, educational

Versatility f. crucial
Involve g. in every part
Throughout h. include
Pursue i. become similar, be in harmony
Assumption k. notify; tell on
Vital l. state of having many abilities or functions
Chronological m. point of view
Conform n. chase after, follow
Convention o. impressive
Dramatic p. viewers
❸ Activity
Fill in the blanks with the given words:
Efficiency persuade agility pursues

typographical practitioners precise headline
attribution conventions a wide variety of dramatic
simplicity to inform inverted pyramid conform
1. Writers for the mass media must take on ………………………………. subjects and
use a variety of formats, including news stories, feature stories, advertisements,
letters, and editorials.
2. Writing for the mass media has three major purposes: ………………, entertain,
or……………….. .
3. Developing a professional …………… will be a valuable asset to anyone who
…………… a writing career.
4. One of the most important forms is the ……………………. structure of news writing.
5. The writing must also ………………. to certain journalistic ……………….., such as
………………. and proper identification of persons mentioned in the story.
6. Broadcast writing — writing that is written to be read aloud and heard –
demands a different structure, ……………. unity, that emphasizes …………………..
and …………….. .
7. Writing for publish relations calls for wide versatility on the part of…………………...
8. Web writers are likely to have many more options and fewer ……………………
rules than the ……………….writer for newspapers.
9. Summaries demand ……………… and concise use of the language.

Speaking
Discuss the following questions in groups.
1. What do you think of mass media in Afghanistan?

2. As a journalist, what do you think of mass media around the world?
3. How do you assess writing articles on mass media?
Writing Exercise
Write a two paragraph article about the question below:
“Don’t you think media is the cause of much violence in Afghanistan?”
Citation: Writing for the mass media, sixth edition, James Glen Stovall

10 Writing News
1. What is news?
2. What are the elements of news?
3. What are the important tips reporters need to consider writing news or
articles for newspapers or TV stations?
4. What is the difference between news and information?
It is said that the letters in the word “NEWS” is derived from the four
directions as indicated below:
N orth, E ast, W est, S outh
Unit 10 Writing News 55

Vocabulary
Read the words and the definitions and practice the pronunciations of the words:
Words Definition
Factual real, actual
Advertising publicly announce
Suppress stop by force; prevent from being disclosed
Discovery finding; revelation
Ancient very old, antique
Periodical seasonal
Concern affect, involve
Publish make publicly known
Affect impact, bear upon, bear on
Assumption supposition, hypothesis
Dictum formal statement
Essential necessary, needed
Scandal outrage
Cynical distrustful, sarcastic
Distinguish differentiate
Commentator person who writes a commentary
Distinction difference
Trivial unimportant, trifling
Mainstream prevailing trend or movement
Approach turn to, come near to
Appeal request
Listening
words you hear:
periodical Ancient assumption published discovery
So if a historian makes a………….....about the eating habits of the

…………………Britons, say, somebody can write a news story about it for the
specialist…………………… History Today. The information will be new to its

readers, though the people concerned lived hundreds of years ago. Then,
when the story is ……………………….., it can be ………………….. by a national
newspaper like the Daily Telegraph or the Sunday Mirror, on the …………………..
that it would appeal to their readers.
Reading
What Is News?
News is easy enough to define. To be news, something must be factual, new and
interesting.
There must be facts to report – without them there can be no news. The facts
must be new - to your readers at least. And these facts must be likely to interest
your readers.
“News is something that somebody somewhere doesn’t want you to print/ want
to suppress. All the rest is advertising. “
Attributed to William Randolph Hearst and Lord Northcliffe
So if a historian makes a discovery about the eating habits of the Ancient Britons,
say, somebody can write a news story about it for the specialist periodical History
Today. The information will be new to its readers, though the people concerned
lived hundreds of years ago. Then, when the story is published, it can be followed
up by a national newspaper like the Daily Telegraph or the Sunday Mirror, on the
assumption that it would appeal to their readers.
Being able to identify what will interest readers is called having a news sense.
There are all sorts of dictums about news (some of which contradict others): that
bad news sells more papers than good news; that news is what somebody wants
to suppress; that readers are most interested in events and issues that affect them
directly; that news is essentially about people; that readers want to read about
people like themselves; that readers are, above all, fascinated by the lives, loves
and scandals of the famous…
It may sound cynical but the most useful guidance for journalism students and
trainees is probably that news is what’s now being published on the news pages
of newspapers and magazines. In other words, whatever the guides and textbooks
may say, what the papers actually say is more important.
“News is what a chap who doesn’t care much about anything wants to read. And

it’s only news until he’s read it. After that it’s dead.”
Evelyn Wangh in Scoop
Some commentators have distinguished between ‘hard’ news about ‘real’,

‘serious’, important’ events affecting people’s lives and ‘soft’ news about ‘trivial’
incidents (such as a cat getting stuck up a tree and being rescued by the fire
brigade). Those analyzing the content of newspapers for its own sake may find this
distinction useful, but in terms of journalistic style it can be a dead end. The fact
is that there is no clear stylistic distinction between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ news writing.
It makes more sense to say that there is a mainstream, traditional approach to

news writing – with a number of variants. The reporter may use one of these
variants – the narrative style, say – to cover the rescue of cat stuck up a tree or
the siege of Sarajevo. Or they may decide, in either case, to opt for the traditional
approach. In fact both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ news can be written either way.
Since we’re talking definitions, why a news report is called a ‘story’? Elsewhere,
the word means anecdote or narrative, fiction or narrative, fiction or fib – though
only a cynic would say that the last two definitions tell the essential truth about
journalism.
After you Read
❶ Activity
Scan the passage above and answer the following questions:
1. What does each letter of the word NEWS stands for?

2. How does William Randolph define News?
3. What are the types of news according to the article?
❷ Activity
Discuss the following questions in pairs:
1. Are you interested in reading newspapers?

2. What is the hottest news on TVs nowadays?
3. What is important to you in news as a journalist?
4. What are the elements of writing news?
5. What makes news valuable?
6. Name different types of news.

Vocabulary Practice
Choose the best answer.
1. The word ‘Factual’ in the first paragraph means…
a. unreal  b. contradict  c. real  d. predicate 
2. The word ‘assumption’ in the second paragraph means…
a. idea  b. hypothesis  c. supposition  d. saying 
3. The word ‘suppresses’ in the second paragraph line three means…
a. prevent from b. stifle  c. disclose  d. opinion 

being disclosed 
4. ‘Publish’ here means…
a. define  b. make publicly c. print  d. assumption 

known 
5. ‘Commentator’ here means…
a. writer, author  b. observer  c. reporter  d. publish 
6. ‘Analyze’ here means…
a. cynical  b. study  c. examine  d. concern 
Writing
Write an educational news and consider the elements of news you have just studied.
Citation: Writing for Journalism\ Author: Wynford Hicks with Sally Adams and Harriett Gilbert

11 Hard News and Features
1. What is hard news and features?

2. How can the news organizations generate income?
3. How does hard news affect news?
Unit 11 Hard News and Features 60

Vocabulary
Read the words and their definitions and practice the pronunciation of the words.
Words Definition
disagreement, argument, their interests sometimes
Conflict
conflict
Crime offence that is punishable by law
everything that exists in the world independently of
Nature
people
legal question to be decided, argument. Supporting one
Cases
side of a question
Approach makes an offer or request to
Affected infected or attacked as by disease
Entertain amuse and interest
Novelty interesting newness, something new and unusual
Factual based on fact
Publication action of making something known to the public
Listening
Listen to your teacher reading the following passage. Fill in the missing words.
includes happen testimony affected new
News falls in to two basic categories: hard news and soft news. Hard news
…………..stories of a timely nature about events …………… or conflicts that have
just happened or are about to ………….., such as crimes, fires, meetings, protest
rallies, speeches and ……………… in court cases. The hard-news approach is
basically an account of what happened, why it happened and how readers will
be …………... These stories have immediacy.
Before you Read
Skim the reading for the main idea and report it in one sentence:
The main idea of the reading is …..........................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................ .

Reading
Hard News and Features
News falls in to two basic categories: hard news and soft news. Hard news
includes stories of a timely nature about events or conflicts that have just
happened or are about to happen, such as crimes, fires, meetings, protest rallies,
speeches and testimony in court cases. The hard-news approach is basically an
account of what happened, why it happened and how readers will be affected.
These stories have immediacy.
Soft news is defined as news that entertains or informs, with an emphasis on

human interest and novelty and less immediacy than hard news. For example,
a profile about a man who designs model airplanes or a story about the
effectiveness of diets would be considered soft news.
Soft news can also be stories that focus on people, places or issues that affect
readers’ lives. These types of stories are called feature stories. A story about the
growing number of babies from AIDS could be considered a soft- news story. It
isn’t less important than hard news, but it isn’t news that happened overnight
However, a feature story can be based on a news event. Instead of being just a
factual account of the event, it features or focuses on a particular angle, such as
human- interest reactions.
If the action or event occurred the same day as or the day before publication
of the newspaper, the event is called breaking news. Here is an example of the
lead of a breaking- news story from a Saturday edition. The hard- news story
about the storm was the main story, called a mainbar. Because the accompanying
feature story was a different angle on the same topic, it was asidebar packaged
with the main story. But many other features in a newspaper do not have a
breaking- news page. They simply focus on interesting people or topics. For
example, the Boca Raton news printed a feature story on the growing popularity
of waterbeds, a topic of interest to its readers.
Citation: Writing and Reporting, News book Writer: Carole Rich
After you Read
Discuss the following questions in groups:
1. What is hard news and features?

2. Why do people look for news?

3. What are the roles of hard and soft news in the society and how do they
help people?
4. What are the differences between hard and soft news?
5. What does being objective mean?
Writing
Write a paragraph about a news story that you have recently read or watched.

12 Finding the Focus
1. What are readers looking for when they read a news story?
2. How can you make readers see and care about the story?
3. How are readers or viewers affectedby news?
Unit 12 Finding the Focus 64

Vocabulary
Read the words with their definitions and practice the pronunciations of the
words.
Words Definition
A story is also a description or account of things that
Story
have happened.
When someone or something approaches you, they
Approach
come nearer to you.
A storyteller is a person who tells or writes stories,
Storytelling
usually as a job.
An anecdote is a short, entertaining account of
Anecdote
something that has happened.
If something happens regardless of something else, it
Regardless
happens in spite of it.
A headline is the title of a newspaper story, printed in
Headline
large letters.
If you anchor an object, you prevent it from moving by
Anchor
fixing it family to something that is stationary.
If you convince someone of something, you make
Convince
them believe that it is true or that it exists.
If a person or thing has a particular quality or
Particular
possession, it belongs only to them.
The organization of an activity or public event involves
Organization
making all the arrangements for it.
If you provide something that someone needs or wants,
Provide
you give it to them or make it available to them.
Listening
Listen to your teacher reading the following passage. Fill in the missing words.
Determine point headline convince factor

decide unusual important statement get
To …………………..the focus of a news story, ask you “what’s the story about?” Try
to answer that question in one simple sentence. Think of focus as a …………………
for your story. What makes this story newsworthy? You could use this focus

………………..as your lead if you ………………..you want the first sentence to
………………directly to the …………………of your story.
This is the “so- what ………………. Is there something ……………….or interesting
or ………………that will affect your audience? If you were trying to …………………..
someone to read or view your story, what point would you stress?
Reading
Finding the Focus
Not all basic news stories have to start with such a direct approach. Some
stories start with a storytelling approach, such as an anecdote about a person
or place. Regardless of how you start your story, all news stories are developed
are around one main point a focus. The rest of the story should contain quotes,
facts and information to support that focus. Because readers and viewers are
bombarded with so much information these days, they want to know the point
of the story quickly, so you need to put the focus in the first few paragraphs of
the story.
In print and web media, the focus is usually identified by a headline. In

broadcast news, the anchor will lead into the story by identifying the main point.
Regardless of the medium, the focus should be high in the story, but in some
cases if the story is compelling enough, it could be a little lower.
To determine the focus of a news story, ask yourself “what’s the story about?”
Try to answer that question in one simple sentence. Think of focus as a headline
for your story. What makes this story newsworthy? You could use this focus
statement as your lead if you decide you want the first sentence to get directly
to the point of your story.
This is the “so- what factor. Is there something important or interesting or

unusual that will affect your audience? If you were trying to convince someone
to read or view your story, what point would you stress?
Another way to determine your focus is to use the “tell-a-friend “technique.

This is a natural conversational method, particularly important in broadcast
writing. Imagine that your friend asks what the story is about and what happened.
Chances are that you might talk about the most interesting information first.
Thinking in these terms will give you a clue for your lead and your organization.
In this example, the focus is in the first sentence, which is the lead. It tells

what the story is about and how it affects the reader. It is also written in a
conversational tone. The second paragraph and the rest of the story provide
facts and information to support this main idea.
After you Read
Activity. Answer the following questions.
1. What is the story about?

2. How would you tell the story to a friend?
3. Why should readers or viewers care about your story?
4. How would you describe the main idea of the reading in a few words?
Writing
Write a news story using the techniques introduced in the reading.

13 How to Conduct an
Interview
1. Do you have the experience of having an interview? If yes, how was it?
2. Why do you think journalists interview people?
3. Have you ever interviewed someone for writing a news story? How was it?
Unit 13 How to Conduct an Interview 68

Vocabulary
Words Definition
Precede forego - antedate - go before
Arrangements adjustment, order
the action of making ready or being made ready for
Preparation
use.
Actual real - factual
Reconstruction rebuilding - restoration - rehabilitation
Phase stage - period
an arrangement to meet someone at a particular
Appointment
time and place.
Atmosphere environment
Handle feel or manipulate with the hands.
give (something, esp. money) in order to help achieve
Contribute
or provide something.
Pertinent relevant or applicable to a particular matter; apposite
Launch an act or an instance of launching something
Prattle foolish or inconsequential talk: "this childish prattle".
take in and assimilate (information, ideas, or
Absorb
experience).
not advisable; likely to have unfortunate
Inadvisable
consequences; unwise
Compel force or oblige (someone) to do something.
Scribble write or draw (something) carelessly or hurriedly.
succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying
Decipher
(something).
Alongside beside - by - next - along
Abbreviation a shortened form of a word or phrase.
Reading
How to Conduct an Interview
Interviews have four stages that precede the writing of a story: arrangements,
preparation, the actual interview and the reconstruction.

Arrangements--Spontaneous interviews, except in connection with breaking
news, seldom contribute to thoroughness. Once you have decided to interview
someone, call in advance to make an appointment. Identify yourself by your
name and the name of your publication. If you feel the need to do so or are
asked to describe what the story is about, be brief and general. The shape of
the story might change as you continue you’re reporting. If you are interviewing
several persons in connection with your story, interview the principal person
last, because you will be better prepared based on what you learn from the
earlier interviews.
Preparation--do as much research as possible in advance on the person and/

or topic you are working on. Sources might include the library, public records,
the internet and people you know who can provide background information.
Prepare your questions in advance in writing and bring them to the interview.
Refer to them but don't show them to the interviewee, because it creates too
formal an atmosphere. Ask other questions as they might arise, based on what
the interviewee says or something new that might come to you on the spur of
the moment. Bring two pencils (or pens) and paper. A stenographer's notebook
is usually easier to handle than a large pad but use whatever is comfortable.
Bring a tape recorder if you can but be sure to get the permission to use it from
the person you are interviewing. You also should take notes, because it will help
in the reconstruction phase, and, yes, tape recorders fail occasionally.
The interview--It is inadvisable to launch right into the interview unless you are
only being given a few minutes. Some casual conversation to start with will relax
both of you. Questions should be as short as possible. Give the respondent time
to answer. Be a good listener. If he or she prattles on, it is appropriate to move on
as politely as you can. You might say something such as: "Fine, but let me ask you
this…” Try to draw out specifics: How long, how many, when, etc.? Absorb the
atmospherics of the locale where the interview takes place, with particular attention
to what might be a reflection of the interviewee's personality and interests, such
as photos of children or bowling trophies or a paper-littered desk or a clean one,
etc… Note characteristics of the interviewee that might be worth mentioning in
your story, such as pacing, looking out the window to think, hand gestures and the
like. Invite the person to call you if she/he thinks of anything pertinent after the
interview. It often happens, so be sure to provide your name, email address and
phone number on a card or piece of paper before you leave. If that person has a
secretary, be sure to get that person's name and telephone number, too, in case
there is some detail that needs follow-up and, again, leave information as to how
you may be contacted. If a photo is needed and is not taken during the interview, be
sure to make arrangements then to have one taken at a later time.

Reconstruction--As soon as it's practical after the interview, find a quiet place
to review your handwritten notes. In your haste while taking notes, you may
have written abbreviations for words that won't mean anything to you a day or
two later. Or some of your scribbling may need deciphering, and, again, it is more
likely you'll be better able to understand the scribbles soon after the interview.
Underline or put stars alongside quotes that seemed most compelling. One star
for a good quote, two stars for a very good one, etc... It will speed the process
when you get to the writing stage. One other thing to look for in your notes:
the quote you wrote down might not make a lot of sense, unless you remember
what specific question it was responding to. In short, fill in whatever gaps exist
in your notes that will help you better understand them when writing. Exercise
Citation: www.eslpodcast.com, Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
After you Read

1. What are some of the tips someone should consider giving an interview?
2. What are the steps of an interview according to the passage?
3. Where is a suitable place to conduct an interview?
4. What should we do in the reconstruction part?
5. How much preparation is important while we are conducting an interview?
Listening
Listen to the audio someone is talking about his first experience of getting an
interview and fill in the missing words.
Getting an Interview
planning graduate picky part-time priorities

landed back and forth combine speech writer applied
I've finally …………….. my first interview. Well, actually, that's not really true. I have
been on many interviews for ……………… jobs. This was my first interview for a
full-time job. In less than two months, I will ……………….. from Arizona University.
After a lot of ……………… trying to decide on a major, I finally decided to double
major. I would study both political science and marketing.
These are not majors that usually go together. In fact, most people thought I
was crazy. But, after a lot of soul searching, I decided to ………………. my two main

interests: 1. politics and 2. getting a job! Those are my two…………….. I thought
that if I get degrees in these two fields, I could cast a wide net when going job
hunting. And, that's what I'm trying to do now.
Since I don't know if I want to work in the public or private sector, I've ……………..
for jobs in both.
In the public sector, I could work for the government. Maybe one day, I could even
be a …………………..for the President! Okay, maybe I should shoot a little lower.
In the private sector, I could work for private organizations such as museums,
schools, or programs. Some of those are non-profit.
Or, I could work for a company. Everybody tells me that that's where the money
is. I haven't decided yet. I'm ……………. to apply for a lot of jobs and will see
what happens. What I want now is just to get some job offers. Then, I can start
being.............
Activity
Answer the following questions

1. How was the interview?
2. Was there anything interesting to you in the interview?
3. How important is priority in getting or giving an interview?
Grammar
Present Continues Tense:
Something is happening at the same time of speaking or around it future

meaning: when you have already decided and arranged to do it (a fixed
plan, date)
To be (am/are/is) + infinitive + ing
I’m working. I’m not working. Am I working?

He’s working. I’m not working. Is he working?
I’m going. I’m not going. Am I going?
He’s going. He isn’t going. Is he going?

❶ Activity
At least write down five sentences from the passage which are in present
continues tense by considering the rules:
1. ………………………………………………………………………………………............................
2. ………………………………………………………………………………………............................
3. ………………………………………………………………………………………............................
4. ………………………………………………………………………………………............................
5. ………………………………………………………………………………………............................
❷ Activity
Pretend you are interviewing someone. Write a complete interview script, and
consider the tips you have just studied in the passage:
Citation: www.eslpodcast.com, Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

14 Virtual Interview
1. What does virtual mean? What is the opposite of virtual?

2. Have you ever done a virtual interview? Have you done real time live
interviews? If you said yes to either question, explain to your classmates.
Unit 14 Virtual Interview 74

Vocabulary
Fill in the blanks with the given words.
Virtual In real-time Voice chat Text chat Email

Face-to-face Chat room Delayed Type Encrypted
1. ......................... seeming real but produced by a computer.
2. ......................... with only a short time between a computer receiving
information and dealing with it.
3. ......................... a way of having a conversation over the internet by talking
and listening to someone.
4. ......................... a way of having a conversation over the internet by sending
and replying to messages immediately.
5. ......................... a system that allow people to send messages to each other
using the internet.
6. ......................... talking to someone in the same place.
7. ......................... an area on the internet where people can communicate with
each other.
8. ......................... not happening immediately.
9. ......................... writing using a computer keyboard.
10. ......................... converted into a secret code so that other people can’t
understand it.
Listening
Text tricky face-to-face clarify

article subsequent virtual
They are more immediate and informal. The interaction is similar to

……………………. or telephone interviews, in that you can quickly ………………….
points, ask follow-up questions and generally guide the interview in the way
that you want. An interesting aspect of real-time interviews is that there are a
vast number of chats ………………….. in environments related to specific topics.
This allows you to easily find original sources. For example, if you are writing an
………………. on bird watching, you can go to a specialized site with a chat room
and interview a birdwatcher. When you’ve found someone to interview, you
can then choose to chat privately. On the downside, there is often a big delay

between ……………………. messages, which can make conducting the interview
…..…... and for text chat it helps if both parties can type fast.
Reading
Virtual Interview
A virtual interview is
one carried out through
the Internet. It can take
place in real time, using
voice or text chat facilities,
for example, or in delayed
communication, for
example by email.
They are more

immediate and informal.
The interaction is similar to
face-to-face or telephone
interviews, in that you can quickly clarify points, ask follow-up questions and
generally guide the interview in the way that you want. An interesting aspect
of real-time interviews is that there are a vast number of chat facilities in
environments related to specific topics. This allows you to easily find original
sources. For example, if you are writing an article on bird watching, you can go
to a specialized site with a chat room and interview a birdwatcher. When you’ve
found someone to interview, you can then choose to chat privately. On the
downside, there is often a big delay between subsequent messages, which can
make conducting the interview tricky, and for text chat it helps if both parties
can type fast.
The interviewees have much more time to consider their answers. You are
likely to get more detailed, well-thought-out replies to your questions. This can
be an advantage when dealing with complicated or controversial matters. Emails
can be encrypted, so your source can be protected. The main shortcoming is
the time factor. You may not get a prompt answer, or indeed any answer at all.
A lot of people get so many emails every day that they don’t open and read
all of them. If you’re on a tight deadline, you should probably go for real-time
interviewing.

You should approach a potential interviewee politely, stating clearly who you
are and why you are contacting them. If they decline to be interviewed, respect
their wishes. When using email, make sure your initial message is clear and to
the point. Limit the number of questions – you can always ask more in a later
message, and if you need a reply by a certain date, say so.
After you Read
According to the FAQs, which method of communication is best in the

situations below, answer to these questions voice text chat or email and writes
them down to the given boxes.
1. You want to interview someone with a specific interest.

2. You need a lot of details about a complicated subject.
3. You want to interview someone about a controversial subject.
4. You need to check information quickly.
5. You are working to a tight deadline.
6. You want to be sure that the interview is completely confidential.
Voice or text chat Email
Writing
Write a paragraph about virtual interview, have you ever had virtual interview or not?

15 Effective Note Taking
1. How important is note taking for a journalist?

2. What are the important notes that can be effective for a journalist?
3. Should we take note of everything as a journalist?
Unit 15 Effective Note Taking 78

Vocabulary
Words Definition
Irrelevant not connected with or relevant to something.
Illegible not clear enough to be read, unreadable
Scrawl write (something) in a hurried, careless way.
Cryptic having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.
Chaotic in a state of complete confusion and disorder.
a written or printed version of material originally
Transcript
presented in another medium.
Smudge blur
Distinguish differentiate
a method of rapid writing by means of abbreviations
Shorthand
and symbols, used esp. for taking dictation
Abbreviate shorten, cut short
(of a person, behavior, or process) Unchanging in
Consistent
achievement or effect over a period of time.
Initial first - opening
Ensure insure - assure
Observant attentive - careful - mindful
Reveal disclose - uncover – unfold
Reading
Below there are some tips on how to make your note-taking more effective.
Effective note taking
Note taking is an important skill for a journalist, and yet is often not taught
on journalism courses. It seems like a simple task, but the reality is that unless
you put some serious thought into it, you may end up with a chaotic notebook
full of illegible scrawl and cryptic symbols. And that’s no good with a deadline
looming. Effective note taking makes your job much quicker and easier and your
stories more accurate.

Here are some tips for effective note taking:
• There are times when a tape recorder is a valuable tool, for example if you’re
going to need a transcript of the interview, but you should always back it up with
handwritten notes. Tape recorders can and do fail. A set of clear, organized notes
won’t let you down.
• A notebook ruled in columns means you need less time to move from the
end of a line to the beginning of the next. The right kind of pen won’t smudge,
and will allow you to write faster. Different colored inks can help distinguish
between speakers.
• Learn shorthand or speedwriting, or invent your own system. Identify the

words you use most and abbreviate them. Use a consistent system of symbols to
identify important stuff, great quotes, things that need clarifying, etc…
• Use the same notebook for your initial research, your interview notes and
any further information you may need. Staple business cards into your notebook.
• Make sure you have the correct spelling of names and places. Double-check
phone numbers and dates of birth. This can be a good way to start an interview,
and ensures that you have all the information you need about the interviewee
right from the start.
• Draw a plan of the room or scene. Be observant, and note down what you
can see. What is revealed about the interviewee’s lifestyle or personality? These
details will add color to your story.
• Don’t try to write everything down. Distinguish between what can be

paraphrased, and what you will want to quote. Make sure you’re really aware
of what the person is saying. Don’t write down points that are irrelevant to your
story.
• If the person is speaking too quickly, ask them to slow down or repeat
what they’ve said. Give yourself time to digest what’s been said by asking an
unimportant question. Make sure that you control the pace of the interview.
• They are your record of what was said. Long after the story is published,
they may still be important. Take legal advice on how long to keep them.

After you Read
❶ Activity
1. Is note-taking important for a journalist?

2. What did you learn from the tips you have just studied?
3. Should we consider the tips mentioned above as a journalist?
4. What are other tips you experienced as a journalist?
❷ Activity
Match the headings to the paragraphs A – I of the text on effective note – taking.
Don’t forget to listen

Keep your notes
Get faster
Don’t rely on a tape recorder
Use visuals
Check your basic facts
Keep all the information in the
Take control
same place
Choose your tools well
A. ……………………………………………………………………………
B. ……………………………………………………………………………
C. ……………………………………………………………………………
D. ……………………………………………………………………………
E. ……………………………………………………………………………
F. ……………………………………………………………………………
G. ……………………………………………………………………………
H. ……………………………………………………………………………
I. …………………………………………………………………………….
❸ Activity
Read the text again and decide if the following statements are true or false.
1. Note taking is usually taught in journalism courses.
2. Good journalists never use tape recorders.
3. A notebook with columns will help you write more quickly.
4. You shouldn’t use abbreviations.
5. You can start an interview by checking how the person’s name is spelt.
6. You should record details of the place where the interview is held.
7. You should write down everything you hear.
8. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask the interviewee to speak more slowly.

Writing
Write about effective note-taking ways.

16 Citizen Journalism
1. What is citizen journalism?

2. Do you know someone who works as a citizen journalist?
3. Do you think working as a citizen journalist in the context of Afghanistan is
an easy job or challenging?
Unit 16 Citizen Journalism 83

Vocabulary
Read the words and their definitions and practice the pronunciation of the
words.
Words Definition
Campus college, grounds, property on which a college is located
Editors one who prepares printed matter for publication
Descriptive serving to describe, representational, illustrative
Reputation repute, regard; esteem, renowned
Concerned worried; interested, involved in something.
follows a program Procedure proposition after
Trace
Proposition
envy, covetousness, resentment; vigilance, Zealousness;
Jealousy
intolerance
respected, highly esteemed, favorably regarded, having a
Prestigious
good reputation
Internship period during which a person serves as an intern
pledge, give one's word, vow, and commit oneself to a
Promise
certain course of action
act of managing or supervising; person or group of
Management
People that manages a business
Excuses forgive; free, release; justify reason, pretext apology
Colleagues fellow worker
Listening
Newspapers editors prolifically descriptive

outstanding require inaccuracies complaints
A reporter for your campus …………….quickly becomes a star by charming

………………and professors, volunteering for stories and writing……………. His
stories are filled with ………………details and human – interest features that gain
him a reputation as an ………………..writer. But the editor of the paper is concerned
because several of his stories ……………..corrections after they are printed and the
editor can’t trace some of the sources. The editor and some staffers complain

to journalism professors about this reporter’s…...................... but the professors
dismiss the ………………...as jealousy over this rising star.
Before you Read
The main idea of the reading is….
Reading
Citizen Journalism
A reporter for your campus newspapers quickly becomes a star by charming

editors and professors, volunteering for stories and writing prolifically. His stories are
filled with descriptive details and human – interest features that gain him a reputation
as an outstanding writer. But the editor of the paper is concerned because several of
his stories require corrections after they are printed and the editor can’t trace some
of the sources. The editor and some staff complain to journalism professors about
this reporter’s inaccuracies, but the professors dismiss the complaints as jealousy
over this rising star.
The reporter lands a prestigious internship with a large daily newspaper and later
is hired full time even before he graduates from journalism school. He shows much
promise and gets assigned to major national stories, but during his four years at the
paper his stories require 50 corrections, and one of his editors thinks he should be
fired. However, top management at the newspaper excuses the reporter because he
says that he has had several personal problems.
His trail of deception, plagiarism and fabrication is uncovered after the

newspaper is notified that he plagiarized a story written by one of his former campus
newspaper colleagues who was working at a newspaper in San Antonio. The story,
about a Texas mother whose son died in Iraq, was only one of at least 36 articles
containing plagiarism or fabricated quotes and facts. The reporter resigns, and the
newspaper publishes an extensive front page Sunday story explaining the situation
and apologizing to readers.
Citation: Writing and Reporting News book Carole Rich
After you Read
Discuss these questions in pairs:

1. What steps could have or should have been taken to prevent this situation from
happening?

2. What would you have done if you were the campus editor or his editor at that
newspaper?
3. What can be done to prevent plagiarism and fabrication in the media?
Writing
Unscramble the words and make correct sentences.
1. To / staffers /and /the / journalism/ some / editor / complain /professors /. /

...................................................................................................................
2. A /in /the /about /story /whose /Iraq /son / mother /Texas / died /. /
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Internship / newspaper / internship /lands /daily /a /with / large / a/

prestigious/.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Becomes /a /for / reporter / a /newspaper /quickly /campus /your/ star /. /

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

17 Media Convergence
1. What are the roles of media convergence in the society and how do they
help people of a society?
2. What are the effects of new technology on media?
4. What do people especially youth expect from media?
Unit 17 Media Convergence 87

Vocabulary
Read the words and their definitions and practice the pronunciation of words.
Words Definition
the cornerstone of something is the basis of its
Cornerstone
existence or success.
a broadcast is something that you hear on the radio or
Broadcast
see on television.
Blurring a blurry shape or picture is one with an unclear outline.
relations between people, groups, or countries are
Relation contacts between them and the way they behave
towards each other.
a mixture of things consists of several different things
Mixture
together.
if you provide something that someone needs or wants,
Provide
you give it to them or make it available to them.
you can also use audience to refer to the people who
Audience
read someone's books or hear about their ideas.
some people use the heck after words such as `how',
Heck
`why', or `what', to emphasize a question.
Available if something is available, you can use it or obtain it.
Innovative something that is innovative is new and original.
a perspective is a particular way of thinking about
Perspective
something.
if people promote something, they help or encourage it
Promote
to develop or succeed.
Nature the nature of something is its basic quality or character.
Listening
Listen to a dictation reading by the teacher. Fill in the blanks with the words
you hear:
writing relations medium although knowledge broadcast
Good ……………is still the cornerstone for all media, but the lines between print
broadcast news are blurring. The days of writing for a single ……………have most

news, public ……………….and advertising organizations.
The mixture of media is called “convergence” “multimedia”, ‘integrated and
other terms. ……………….many of the skills you need to become a journals
grounded in basic reporting and writing principles, in today’s market you’ll gain
some ………………..of how to present information for print, ………………and media.
Reading
Media Convergence
Good writing is still the cornerstone for all media, but the lines between print
broadcast news are blurring. The days of writing for a single medium have most
news, public relations and advertising organizations. The mixture of media is
called “convergence” “multimedia”, ‘integrated and other terms. Although many
of the skills you need to become a journals grounded in basic reporting and
writing principles, in today’s market you’ll gain some knowledge of how to present
information for print, broadcast and media.
Peter M. Zollman, a founder of Advanced Interactive Media Group in Journalism

says news organizations must be prepared to provide information on a various
devices: “You have to serve your audience with content and information that in
whatever form they want it. That means print, audio, video on any device want.
People will want the information they want when they want it. Your device is
whenever the heck you get it and makes it available to your audiences.”
Rob Curley, who is considered one of the most innovative pioneers in online
tent, echoes Zelman’s perspective of providing the audience news in any form
want. But he says the concept of convergence is changing. In the past a TV
would cooperate with a newspaper by telling viewers to read more about that
in tomorrow’s newspaper and the newspaper would promote something on the
station, or they would promote something on their website. Curley says that the
nature of convergence, but he says it was really just “cross – promotion.”
After you Read
❶ Activity
1. How much is writing important in media?
2. What is the mixture of media?
3. Who was Peter M. Zollman?
4. What are the jobs of news organizations?
5. Who was Rob Curley?
❷ Activity
Unscramble the words and make correct sentences:
1. It/want/ they/ information/ want/ will/ the/ when/ people/ want/they/.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………................
2. Concept/ is/ he/ convergence/ of/ but/ the/ change/ says/.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………................
3. On/ would/ their/ they/ something/ sites/ promote/ web/.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………................
4. The/ all/ good/ still/ media/ for/ is/ writing/ cornerstone/.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………................
5. He/ it/ cross/ of/ that/ convergence/ the/was/ Curley/ just/ but/ promotion/
says/nature/ really/ says/.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………................
Writing
Write a paragraph and compare the media you used the most five years ago
with the media you use now.

18 Blogs in Public Relations
and Marketing
1. Should journalists use sources from social networking sites without

contacting the person who posted the information? why?
2. Should journalists use anonymous sources from blogs? Explain.
3. Should blogs be edited or monitored for standards of taste? Explain.
Unit 18 Blogs in Public Relations and Marketing 91

Vocabulary
Words Definition
something that is limited is rather small in amount or
Limit
degree.
is the activity or process of giving information to other
Communication
people or living things.
if one thing is similar to another, they have features that
Similar
are the same
you use potential to describe something as capable of
Potential
becoming a Particular kind of thing.
Powerful a powerful person or organization is able to control
Create to create something means to cause it to happen or exist.
a consultant is an experienced doctor specializing in one
Consultant
area of medicine
you can also use audience to refer to the people who read
Audience
someone's books or hear about their ideas.
an opportunity is a situation in which it is possible for you
Opportunity
to do something that you want to do.
when you lean in a particular direction, you bend your
Lean
body in that Direction.
Vast something that is vast is extremely large.
if you have had experience of something, you have seen it,
Experience
done it, or felt it.
if you contribute to something, you say or do things which
Contribute
help to make Successful.
Participate if you participate in an activity, you take part in it
is the work and processes involved in making things in
Industry
factories.
Release to release someone means to set them free.
means owned by or relating to one or more large
Corporate
businesses.
Social means relating to society.
if someone or something has credibility, people believe in
Credibility
them and trust them.
Vast something that is vast is extremely

Listening
journalism opportunity powerful blogs

related commentary vast listens
Blogs are not limited to ……………….. and personal sites. Hill & Knowlton, one of
the largest public relations / marketing forms in the world, supports …………………..
and calls them “collective communication”. On its website, the company says,
like many other companies, we believe that blogs have the potential to become
…………………….. communications tools. We have created this community to
give our consultants the ………………….. to participate in the blogosphere, to
………………….. to and lean from our audiences, and to contribute their own
……………………… insight and experience on topics ………………….. to our industry.
All our bloggers are employees of Hill & Knowlton somewhere.”
Reading
Blog in Public Relations and Marketing
Blogs are not limited to journalism and personal sites. Hill & Knowlton, one of
the largest public relations marketing forms in the world, supports blogs and calls
them “collective communication“. On its Web site, the company says, “Like many
other companies, we believe that blogs have the potential to become powerful
communications tools. We have created this community to give our consultants
the opportunity to participate in the blogosphere, to listen and learn from our
audiences, and to contribute their own vast insight and experience on topics related
to our industry. All our bloggers are employees of Hill & Knowlton somewhere.”
PR Web, a wire service Web site that distributes news releases, has also ventured
into the blogosphere by using a system called Trackbacks, which enables bloggers
who respond to a news release to link directly to the releases in their commentary.
“Customer interaction is part of our corporate DNA. It is built in to everything

we do. For years, we have watched as press releases distributed through PR Web
have been the catalyst for online conversation. Adding trackbacks to our press
release completes the communications loop, according to a PR Web news release.
Trackbacks also can link one blog to another on a similar topic if both blog sites
support the technology.

The public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has joined the blog movement
by operating an online media room, which include RSS feeds to updated news
release as well as podcasts (http:// media. Prsa. Org). In a survey “wired for Change,”
conducted by PRSA and Dow Jones & Co, professional practitioners and students
in public relations raised concerns about the credibility of information in social
networking sites, but almost all of them agreed that technology had positively
affected public relations practices.
“The citizen journalist with a high-tech cell phone and blog can turn the role of
communications upside down from a world of control to a world of community and
conversation,” according to the survey. “These tools make our work more complex,
raising more questions than answers, like how to translate professional ethical
standards into the world of social media.”
Citation: Writing for Journalism\ Author: Wynford Hicks with Sally Adams and Harriett Gilbert
After you Read
❶ Activity
Choose the correct sentence: put √ and ×.
1)
a. Blogs is not limited to journalism and personal sites.
b. Blogs are not limited to journalism and personal sites.
2)
a. We believe that blogs have the potential to become powerful
communications tools.
b. We believe that blogs have the potential to become powerful
communications tools.
3)
a. It is built in to everything we do.
b. It is built in to everything we do.
4)
a. The public relations Society of America has joined the blog movement.
b. The public Relations Society of America have joined the blog movement.
5)
a. These tools make our work more complex.
b. These tools make our work more complex.

After you Read
1. Is the information on blogs accurate or based on rumors?

2. How should editors deal with abusive posts on Web sites that seek
comments from readers and viewers increase?
3. How can one write a blog?
4. What is most important or most interesting about blogs in public relations
and marketing?
5. Do you think you will have to possess convergent skills of print, broadcast
and Web writing when you apply for a media job?
Word Association Exercise
Write five or 10 words that come to your mind associated with these words (1
minute for each word association) blog, ethical, public, support, media, news.
Writing
Write a blog on a personal topic that you think might be of interest to a

campus audience.

19 Ethical Issues
1. What ethical issues should journalist consider when reporting news?

2. What will happen to reporters if they get wrong information?
Unit 19 Ethical Issues 96

Vocabulary
Read the words and the definitions and practice the pronunciation of the
words.
Words Definition
Watchdog person or group that tries to prevent loss waste.
the quality that somebody, something has that
Credibility
makes people believe or trust them
Contributor person who contributes
a person who has the legal right to belong to a
Citizen
particular country
the state of being exact or connect the ability to do
Accuracy
something skillfully
Require order, expecting obedience
to make a particular idea or opinion accepted by
Mainstream
most people
Suppose consider to be probable, be generally considered
subject to be talked about or argued, printing at one
Issues
time of a magazine
Comprehensive teaching pupils a fall abilities together.
Encourage give approval to
Espouse support an idea or principle
Adaptation act of adapting an adaptation of the play for radio
Listening
contributors improve trust fairness edited staff

covering supposed bloggers impartial citizen
Bloggers may be acting as watchdogs to …………………. credibility and ………………..

in the media, but how trustworthy are the bloggers? Even though the contributors
may be called ……………………. journalists, are they journalists? Because most
blogs are not …………………and do not have to meet the standards of accuracy and
……………….. required by mainstream news sites, their credibility is questionable.
Another ethical issue is where …………………. reporters for TV news stations and

newspapers should write blogs that express their personal opinions when they
are ……………………. to be ………………….. in the news. Ethical issues abound in the
changing world of bloggers. Although news sites may offer guidelines for blog
…………………., no official code of ethics governs the blogosphere.
Before you Read
Skim the Reading for the main idea and report or summarize it in one
sentence:
The main idea of the reading is ….........................................................................
Reading
Ethical Issues
Bloggers may be acting as watchdogs to improve credibility and trust in the

media, but how trustworthy are the bloggers? Even though the contributors
may be called citizen journalists, are they journalists? Because most blogs are
not edited and do not have to meet the standards of accuracy and fairness
required by mainstream news sites, their credibility is questionable.
Another ethical issue is where staff reporters for TV news stations and
newspapers should write blogs that express their personal opinions when they
are supposed to be impartial in covering the news. Ethical issues abound in the
changing world of bloggers. Although news sites may offer guidelines for blog
contributors, no official code of ethics governs the blogosphere.
Jonathan Dube, creator of comprehensive online journalism Web sites that

lists more than 300 media blogs, has proposed a blogger’s code of ethics on
his site, www.cyberjournalist.net. His proposed code encourages bloggers to
practice some of the same standards that journalists espouse, chiefly to be
honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. His code is
an adaptation of the Society of professional Journalists code of ethics, which is
widely followed by mainstream media organizations.

Before you Read
1. What did you learn from passage about ethical Issues?

2. What are the jobs of bloggers regarding ethical issues?
3. Is the information on blogs accurate and meet the credibility of actual news?
Explain.
4. Who was Jonathan Dube?
Writing
Write a five line paragraph about ethical issues Afghan journalists should observe?

20 Quotes and Attribution
1. Why do journalists quote people?

2. Can a journalist quote someone without mentioning her/his name? Why?
Unit 20 Quotes and Attribution 100

Vocabulary
Read the words and the definitions and practice the pronunciations of the
words.
Words Definition
repeat the words of another person; offer as evidence to
Substantiate
support a claim
Back up cause to accumulate; provide support
quotation marks, punctuation mark used to enclose a
Quotes
direct citation
use different words; present something in a different
Paraphrase
manner
Broadcast to send out programs on television or radio
Bites grip with the teeth
Columnist one who writes article in a newspaper or magazine
daily or monthly news publication printed on large sheets
Newspaper
of cheap paper
Bog wet spongy ground, marshland
Listening
quotes ubstantiate paraphrase broadcast boring interesting

already writing spice newspaper usually potatoes
Good ………………. can back up your lead and ………………….. information in your
story. In addition, good quotes let the reader hear the speaker. But ……………………….
quotes can bog down stories. If they repeat what you have …………………..said,
it’s better to ………………………….. or eliminate them. In a …………………………story,
sound bites take the place of quotes.
Susan Ager, a columnist and …………………………….coach for the Detroit Free Press,
said reporters should consider quotes as the ……………………of the story, not the
meat and ………………….. .
“Readers come to the …………………………….. the way they come to a party,” she
said.” They want to talk to ………………………… people. Long quotes ……………………..
are not very interesting.”

Before you Read
The main idea of the reading is ............................................................................
Reading
Quotes and Attribution
Good quotes can back up your lead and substantiate information in your
story. In addition, good quotes let the reader hear the speaker. But boring
quotes can bog down stories. If they repeat what you have already said, it’s
better to paraphrase or eliminate them. In a broadcast story, sound bites
take the place of quotes.
Susan Ager, a columnist and writing coach for the Detroit Free Press, said
reporters should consider quotes as the spice of the story, not the meat and
potatoes.
“Readers come to the newspaper the way they come to a party,” she
said.” They want to talk to interesting people. Long quotes usually are not
very interesting.”
All quotes must be attributed to a speaker. In addition, you need to

attribute information you paraphrase. In print and online writing, the
attribution may follow the quote, but in broadcast writing, the attribution
must come first. In many cases in broadcast news, the name and title of a
speaker may be superimposed over the video on the bottom screen so you
don’t always need to introduce the source in a sound bite.
Copying the words of other writers is plagiarism, a cardinal sin in

journalism. Even if you paraphrase information you receive from other
publications, you are plagiarizing if you don’t attribute it. Plagiarism is
grounds for dismissal at most news organizations. If you take information
from written or online resources, make sure you attribute it.
Citation: Writing and Reporting News book. Writer: Carole Rich

After you Read
❶ Activity
1. Can the quote back up the lead, the nut graph or supporting ..........
points in your story?
2. Is the quote memorable without referring to your notes? ..........
3. Do your quotes repeat your transitions? Could the quote or the ..........
transition be eliminated?
4. Can you state the information better in your own words? If so, ..........
paraphrase.
5. Does the quote or sound bite advance the story by adding ..........
emotion, interest or new information?
❷ Comprehension Questions
1. What was the passage mainly about?

2. What is the task of a responsible journalist in providing a report?
3. Who was Susan Ager?
Writing
What is your opinion about Plagiarism?

References
1. Carole Rich. (2009, 2010). Writing and Reporting News book: New York, NY.
Michael Rosenberg
2. Carole Rich. (2009.2010). Writing and Reporting News book: New York, NY.
Michael Rosenberg
3. Dr. Tse Lucy. www.eslpodcast.com,
4. Hicks Wynford with Adams Sally and Gilbert Harriett. Writing for Journalism
5. http://blog.abhinav.com/2010/08/the-role-of-media-in-today-society , Adapted
by: Dr. Suzanne Griffin
6. http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-1-3.htm ,
Adapted by: Dr. Suzanne Griffin
7. http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-3.htm ,
Adapted by: Dr. Suzanne Griffin
8. http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-1-5-intro.
htm, Adapted by: Dr. Suzanne Griffin
9. http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-3.htm
10. http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-1-3.htm
11. http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-1-3.htm
12. Rich Carole. (2009.2010). Writing and Reporting News book: New York, NY.
Michael Rosenberg
Michael Rosenberg
Michael Rosenberg
Michael Rosenberg
16. Stanley J. Baran. Introduction to Mass Communication; Third Edition, Chapter
4, Newspapers, London and New York, NY. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
17. Stovall James Glen. (2002, 2006) Writing for the mass media, sixth edition,
New York, NY. Pearson Education, Inc.
18. Stovall James Glen. (2002, 2006) Writing for the Mass Media, Sixth Edition,
chapter 7, page 204, sixth edition. New York, NY. Pearson Education, Inc.
19. Www. bookboon.com, social media/ e-book
20. Wynford Hicks with Sally Adams and Harriett Gilbert. ( 2000, 2005) Writing for
Journalism, Madison Ave, New York, NY. Routlege
References 104
List of images in the book
Unit 1
http://libraries.wichita.edu/subsplus/assets/fckuserfiles/wordle%281%29.png
Unit 2
http://blog.abhinav.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/media.jpg
Unit 3
http://howmanyarethere.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/social_media.jpg
Unit 4
http://www.azurworld-usa.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/online_resources.jpg
Unit 5
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-seo-company/8114489133/in/photostream/
Unit 6
http://doitagainthemovie.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/top-
broadcast.jpg
Unit 7
http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/campus-rivalry/2011/11/17/
cusefinex-large.jpg
Unit 8
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/07/20/science/space/14mission-a1.600.jpg
Unit 9
Unit 10
http://www.contentsalive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/news-writing.jpg
Unit 11
http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/casaalmare/casaalmare0902/
casaalmare090200023/4360128-top-news-on-a-newspaper-page-this-is-not-trade-mark.jpg
Unit 12
http://blog.wisdomjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/How-to-get-
interview-calls.jpg
105
Unit 13
http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/01/11/karzai_1_wide-9bcf307d48c5a5ed
87364e6e78f141ce81d44570-s6-c30.jpg
Unit 14
http://www.resumewriting.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/skype
interview.jpg?9d7bd4
Unit 15
http://www1.cbsd.org/sites/teachers/elementary/jjaffe/Pages/6th-Grade-
Assessment-Sample-Lesson.aspx
Unit 16
http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/a/0LzE4LzE1L2NpdGl6ZW5qb3VyLmVjZmZiLmpwZwp
wCXRodW1iCTk1MHg1MzQjCmUJanBn/f956937a/3a0/citizen-journalists.jpg
Unit 17
http://everyotherdesignnameistaken.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/converge_
full.jpg?w=645
Unit 18
http://www.peacetimesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/blogers-
xh2ysv.jpg
Unit 19
http://www.visibletechnologies.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/08/
iStock_000012880248XSmall.jpg
Cover photo
http://www.smuc.ac.uk/postgraduate-courses-london/ma-sports-journalism/
photos/careers_in_journalism.jpg
106

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English for Students of

Dr. Suzanne Griffin

English for Students of Journalism

Author: Najla Azar, Wahid Naqshbandi

Published by Herat University

Introduction to the Herat University English for Specific Purposes Textbooks

Heads of the English Language and Literature Department:

Professor Yarmand, English Department Head, Herat Education University

Unit 1. A Life in Journalism 6

Introduction to the lesson

Discuss the following questions in pairs.

Unit 1 A Life in Journalism 6

Unit 1 A Life in Journalism 7

Citation: http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-1-3.htm, Adapted by: Dr.

Unit 1 A Life in Journalism 8

1. Cook worked exclusively in television. ..........

1. Extend …………………. Spend ……………………..

Unit 1 A Life in Journalism 9

Unit 1 A Life in Journalism 10

Introduction to the Lesson

Discuss the following questions in pairs.

1. What do you think of the role of media in enhancing public awareness?

Unit 2 The Role of Media in Today’s Society 11

Unit 2 The Role of Media in Today’s Society 12

The Role of Media in Today’s Society

Unit 2 The Role of Media in Today’s Society 13

1. According to the article, what’s the role of media in today’s society?

Match the words with their synonyms:

Express the meaning of (the writer or speaker or something written or

Unit 2 The Role of Media in Today’s Society 14

Citation: http://blog.abhinav.com/2010/08/the-role-of-media-in-today-society/, Adapted by: Dr. Suzanne Griffin

Unit 2 The Role of Media in Today’s Society 15

Introduction to the lesson

Discuss the following questions in pairs.

1. Do you use any social media? Which ones?

Unit 3 Social Media 16

Unit 3 Social Media 17

Before you Read

Scan the passage and answer the following questions:

1. For what reasons people use social media?

Unit 3 Social Media 18

After you Read

1. What are the two popular social media in the text?

According to the article mark the statements as True or False.

Unit 3 Social Media 19

Introduction to the lesson

Discuss the following questions in pairs.

Unit 4 Checking Online Sources 20

Unit 4 Checking Online Sources 21

Checking Online Sources

The internet is a great resource for journalists, as long as the information

Unit 4 Checking Online Sources 22

After you Read

1. Do you think whatever we find on the internet are reliable?

Discuss the following questions in groups.

Make sentences with these disorder words:

1. Do / it / the/ Hoax / often / in / stories/ media/ to / make /mainstream/

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Citation: http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-1-3.htm, Adapted by: Dr.

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Introduction to the lesson

Discuss the following questions in pairs.

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